Matchplate molding machine

ABSTRACT

A matchplate foundry molding machine having a fill station and an adjacent molding station with a cope, matchplate, and drag assembly adapted to be indexed between such stations. The assembly in the fill station is supported for inversion so that the drag may be inverted and filled with sand. After a bottom board is inserted the assembly is reinverted and the cope filled with sand. The assembly is then indexed into the molding station which includes a vertically movable table, a drag support, a cope support, a fixed matchplate support, and a squeeze head incorporating a jolt ram. When the sand filled assembly is in position, the table elevates and simultaneously jolts and squeezes the cope and drag. The table is then lowered to draw the matchplate from the cope which is held against the squeeze board by its support and when the drag and matchplate reach the matchplate support, the matchplate is drawn from the drag with the drag continuing to coring height with the matchplate alone now indexing back to the fill station. The drag support then elevates the drag with the table following to close the drag against the cope, slight further elevation lifting the flasks free of the sand cakes held by the squeeze head which are then supported on the table. The table lowers with the booked cope and drag sand cakes thereon, the drag support following with the drag, with the cope remaining elevated. When the drag is clear, the matchplate is again indexed into the molding station to be reassembled with the cope and drag flasks. The assembly is then indexed to the fill station for filling and the booked cand cakes are pushed out of the machine.

ilnited States Patent [1 1 Shields et a1.

[451 Feb. 26, 1974 MATCHPLATE MOLDING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Robert G. Shields, Chagrin Falls;

Warren A. Blower; Edmond K. Hatch, both of Brecksville, all of Ohio [73] Assignee: The Sherwin-Williams Company,

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 216,013

[52] US. Cl 164/182, 164/187, 164/227 [51] lint. Cl. B220 17/00 [58] Field of Search 164/29, 37, 40, 38, 39, 44, 164/169, 180, 182, 187, 195, 196, 197, 203,

Primary Examiner.l. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John W. Renner [57] ABSTRACT A matchplate foundry molding machine having a fill station and an adjacent molding station with a cope, matchplate, and drag assembly adapted to be indexed between such stations. The assembly in the fill station is supported for inversion so that the drag may be inverted and filled with sand. After a bottom board is inserted the assembly is reinverted and the cope filled with sand. The assembly is then indexed into the molding station which includes a vertically movable table, a drag support, a cope support, a fixed matchplate support, and a squeeze head incorporating a jolt ram. When the sand filled assembly is in position, the table elevates and simultaneously jolts and squeezes the cope and drag. The table is then lowered to draw the matchplate from the cope which is held against the squeeze board by its support and when the drag and matchplate reach the matchplate support, the matchplate is drawn from the drag with the drag continuing to coring height with the matchplate alone now indexing back to the fill station. The drag support then elevates the drag with the table following to close the drag against the cope, slight further elevation lifting the flasks free of the sand cakes held by the squeeze head which are then supported on the table. The table lowers with the booked cope and drag sand cakes thereon, the drag support following with the drag, with the cope remaining elevated. When the drag is clear, the matchplate is again indexed into the molding station to be reassembled with the cope and drag flasks. The assembly is then indexed to the fill station for filling and the booked cand cakes are pushed out of the machine.

22 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBEBIQM 3,794,103

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} sum run of 18 PATENTEDFEMBW sum oaur w PATENI nFmsmM sum 09 or 18 PAIENTEBFEBZVBIQM sum 10 or 18 PATENIEB FEBZB I974 sum 12 at 18 ELEVATION 0F JOLT TABLE (IN INCHES) PAH-1mm P58261974 sum "1: m w

COPE SAND z MATCH PLATE [1112/ 24- 0RAG SAND 22- DRAWLROLLERS l l l l l l I l l i h o m a men 55 3 ELEVATION OF DRAW ROLLERS INCHES) fig. 5.5

I I0 I2 l4 l6 I8 20 22 TIME SECONDS PATENTED FEB26|974 sum 15M 18 MATCHIPLATE MOLDING MACHINE This invention relates generally as indicated to a matchplate foundry molding machine and more particularly to a machine of the type noted which is compact and of simplified operation.

Matchplate molding machines generally include a fill and molding station together with a closing station. In order to accomplish both fill and molding at the same station, it is normally required that the molding or squeeze head he laterally shiftable to clear the flasks therebelow for filling or that a sand measuring box be indexed into position for filling in the molding station. This generally requires either a horizontally movable squeeze head or a horizontally movable sand metering box or both. Examples of such matchplate molding machines may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,432 to Miller et al. and Hunter U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,738.

It is also desirable to have a matchplate molding machine wherein the tooling can be quickly changed. The tooling includes the matchplate which incorporates both the cope and drag patterns as well as the squeeze head which may imprint a pouring basin on the cope portion of the sand cake. With the machine of the present invention, both the matchplate and the squeeze head may be quickly changed. The present invention also provides a matchplate molding machine which utilizes a jolt mechanism in the squeeze head, the latter being vertically stationary and thus avoiding the complexities attendant to providing a jolt mechanism in the vertically movable squeeze table. The present invention provides a matchplate molding machine wherein the cope and drag are filled at one station and then moved to an adjacent molding station, the cope and drag being rammed at the molding station with the matchplate then being drawn first from the cope and then the drag, the latter being booked with the flasks lifted therefrom to form a booked cope and drag sand cake, the thus formed mold then being pushed from the molding station after the cope and drag flask is reassembled with the matchplate to be shifted to the fill station for filling.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a matchplate molding machine of a compact design wherein the molding, drawing, stripping and closing is all accomplished at the molding station.

Another important object is the provision of a compact matchplate molding machine utilizing adjacent fill and molding stations, the sand cakes being rammed, drawn, stripped and closed at the latter.

A further important object is the provision of a matchplate molding machine utilizing at the molding station unique cope and drag support means controlling the position of the cope and drag flasks following molding to obtain drawing, booking, stripping and reassembly.

A further object is the provision of a matchplate molding machine utilizing a fill station having sand fill apparatus which can quickly fill the drag and then the cope with measured amounts of sand.

Still another object is the provision of a matchplate molding machine utilizing a simplified hydraulically operated table to receive the sand filled cope and drag flasks and to ram the sand therein.

Yet another object is the provision of a matchplate molding machine utilizing a squeeze head incorporating a jolt ram therein.

A still further object is the provision of a matchplate molding machine utilizing a cope support permitting the cope to move upwardly but not downwardly until released for reassembly.

A yet further object is the provision of a matchplate molding machine having an improved matchplate indexing mechanism which operates during the cycle of the machine to index the matchplate both with and without the cope and drag flasks.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the machine with the table operating piston-cylinder assembly and the squeeze head partially broken away and in section as seen from the line 2-2 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine as seen from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken through the fill station of the machine as seen from the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the draw mechanism of the machine with one of the draw cylinders being shown in section;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the bottom board feeding mechanism as seen in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of such bottom board feeding mechanism as seen from the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged end view of the bottom board feed mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged end elevation of the matchplate indexing and carriage inversion mechanism;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the matchplate indexing and carriage inversion mechanism partially broken away and in section;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged end elevation of the matchplate indexing piston-cylinder assembly;

FIG. 12 is an axial section of such piston-cylinder assembly taken substantially on the line ll2-l2 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 10 as seen from the line ll4l4l thereof;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical section of the cope support mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged top plan view of the squeeze head;

FIG. 13 is a quarter section of the sqeeze head taken substantially on the line l18]l8 of FIG. 17; 

1. A foundry molding machine comprising a vertically movable table, a squeeze head thereabove, means horizontally to shift a cope-matchplate-drag assembly above said table with both the cope and drag filled with sand, support means for the matchplate, means for elevating said table to squeeze the sand in such flasks, means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved with the sand cake therein substantially against the squeeze head, means to lower said table first to draw the matchplate from the cope and then from the drag as the matchplate engages its support means, means to index the matchplate from above said table, and means to elevate the drag with the table following first to book the cope and drag and then lift the cope and drag flasks from the cakes with the latter being supported on the table.
 2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a centrally located resilient diaphRagm on said table adapted to be inflated directly to engage and properly to support the booked sand cakes as the cope and drag flasks are lifted therefrom.
 3. A foundry molding machine comprising a vertically movable table, a squeeze head thereabove, means to position a cope-matchplate-drag assembly above said table with the cope and drag filled with sand, support means for the matchplate, means for elevating said table to squeeze the sand in such flasks, means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved with the sand cake therein substantially against the squeeze head, means to lower said table first to draw the matchplate from the cope and then from the drag as the matchplate engages its support means, means to index the matchplate from above said table, and means to elevate the drag with the table following first to book the cope and drag and then lift the cope and drag flasks from the cakes with the latter being supported on the table, said means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved comprising a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly and a hydraulic reservoir therefor, said reservoir and piston-cylinder assembly being connected alternatively by a check valve and a control valve.
 4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly extends vertically, and cope retaining means mounted on the rod of said piston-cylinder assembly operative to confine the cope for vertical movement therewith.
 5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cope retaining means comprises sets of vertically spaced lateral projections which receive therebetween a lateral projection of the cope.
 6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sets are each mounted on vertically extending guide rods connected to the rod of said piston-cylinder assembly.
 7. A foundry molding machine comprising a vertically movable table, a squeeze head thereabove, means to position a cope-matchplate-drag assembly above said table with the cope and drag filled with sand, support means for the matchplate, means for elevating said table to squeeze the sand in such flasks, means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved with the sand cake therein substantially against the squeeze head, means to lower said table first to draw the matchplate from the cope and then from the drag as the matchplate engages its support means, means to index the matchplate from above said table, and means to elevate the drag with the table following first to book the cope and drag and then lift the cope and drag flasks from the cakes with the latter being supported on the table, said means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved comprising a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly and a reservoir, and check valve means interconnecting the same to permit fluid to flow from the latter to the former but not vice versa.
 8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly extends vertically with the rod projecting upwardly, said check valve means being connected to the blind end of the cylinder.
 9. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said reservoir is cylindrical and concentric with the cylinder.
 10. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said squeeze head is supported for limited relative movement, and a jolt ram in said squeeze head operative during the elevation of said table to obtain squeeze.
 11. A foundry molding machine comprising a vertically movable table, a squeeze head thereabove, means to position a cope-matchplate-drag assembly above said table with the cope and drag filled with sand, support means for the matchplate, means for elevating said table to squeeze the sand in such flasks, means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved with the sand cake therein substantially against the squeeze head, means to lower said table first to draw the matchplate from the cope and then from the drag as the matchplate engages its support means, means to index the matchplate from above said table, and means to elevate the drag with the taBle following first to book the cope and drag and then lift the cope and drag flasks from the cakes with the latter being supported on the table, said means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved including a plurality of disc assemblies interengaging such cope.
 12. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a fill station laterally adjacent said vertically movable table, and means in said fill station to hold said cope-matchplate-drag assembly for inversion to fill both the cope and drag with sand.
 13. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a draw frame, means for vertically moving said draw frame, and means on said draw frame interengaging such drag to retain the drag for movement therewith.
 14. A foundry molding machine comprising a vertically movable table, a squeeze head thereabove, means to position a cope-matchplate-drag assembly above said table with the cope and drag filled with sand, support means for the matchplate, means for holding the cope in the position thus achieved with the sand cake therein substantially against the squeeze head, means to lower said table first to draw the matchplate from the cope and then from the drag as the matchplate engages its support means, means to index the matchplate from above said table, and means to elevate the drag with the table following first to book the cope and drag and then lift the cope and drag flasks from the cakes with the latter being supported on the table; a draw frame, means for vertically moving said draw frame and means on said draw frame interengaging such drag to retain the drag for movement therewith, said means for vertically moving said draw frame comprising a piston-cylinder assembly which includes a fixed stop means for accurately vertically positioning said draw frame and thus the drag in a plurality of vertical positions.
 15. A machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly includes two interconnected cylinders, a piston in one connected to said draw frame, and a piston in the other fixed to the machine.
 16. A machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said cylinders are tandemly connected and concentric, said piston in one being connected to said draw frame by a rod extending concentrically through the other and its fixed piston.
 17. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a piston-cylinder assembly supporting said table for vertical movement, said assembly including smaller and larger concentric pistons, means to supply fluid pressure to the smaller piston initially to elevate the table, the elevation of the table drawing fluid beneath the larger piston, and means to supply fluid pressure to both pistons to obtain squeeze.
 18. A machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein said smaller piston is mounted on a fixed rod extending concentrically through said larger piston.
 19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 including a tubular rod for said larger piston supporting said table and telescoping over said fixed rod.
 20. A machine as set forth in claim 17 including a fluid reservoir for said piston-cylinder assembly positioned thereabove to facilitate the drawing of fluid beneath the larger piston.
 21. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a fill station laterally adjacent said vertically movable table, a piston-cylinder assembly connected to such matchplate operative to index such cope-matchplate-drag assembly from said fill station to a position above said table, and means connecting the rod of said piston-cylinder assembly to such matchplate whereby such cope-matchplate-drag assembly may be inverted in the fill station and elevated by said vertically movable table.
 22. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a fill station laterally adjacent said molding table, a rollover frame in said fill station, horizontally aligned matchplate supporting rollers in said frame aligned with said support means for the matchplate, and means to retain such cope-matchplate-drag assembly assembled in said rollover frame. 